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Cat & Dog Behavior & Care Advice

Amy Shojai, CABC, Pet Expert & Award-Winning Author

DWAA Hall of Fame & AVMA Veterinary Media Award Winner 

Dog Problems? Cat Concerns? Here’s How to Find Pet Behavior Help

Dog Problems? Cat Concerns? Here’s How to Find Pet Behavior Help

Do you know how do you find pet behavior help? As a certified animal behavior consultant for cats and dogs, I receive many requests for pet behavior help. Solving cat behavior problems and bad dog behavior can be a challenge. Some of these I address with articles explaining cat behavior (how to stop meowing, for example, or dealing with cat aggression), as well as puppy and dog behavior issues like noise phobias and separation behaviors.

Some pet behavior challenges have solutions through reading books and articles, others via phone call advice, and more serious issues (dog aggression, for example) need one-on-one help. But how do the behavior experts receive training?

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Dog Training & Cat Training: How to Clicker Train Pets

Dog Training & Cat Training: How to Clicker Train Pets

People often ask when to start puppy training, and training a kitten or cat training is no different. Pets can learn at any age. January is “Train Your Dog Month” so it’s a great time to revisit clicker training. Clicker training pets offers a great way to teach pets to learn, think, and please you. Pets—and people—will repeat behaviors that reward them and naturally avoid behaviors that offer no benefit. Owners don’t have to be master dog trainers to use this technique, and dogs and cats learn quickly how to behave. You can even trick train cats! Read on to learn how.

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Feline Urinary Tract Disorders & The “Stoned” Cat

Feline Urinary Tract Disorders & The “Stoned” Cat

Do you know the signs of a cat urinary blockage? Do you know about FLUTD? Maybe you’re puzzled why your cat suddenly pees outside the box? Or maybe he strains and strains but can’t elminate. Is it constipation? Or does he have a cat urinary blockage? How can I stop my cat from peeing on the carpet?

If you’re asking these questions, you’ve come to the right place. Feline lower urinary tract disorders (FLUTD) can cause deadly cat urinary blockage. It frustrates cat owners—and also the cats! A cat urinary blockage can be deadly, so it’s vital to recognize the signs of a feline urinary tract disorder. This post is dedicated to my friend Susan Richardson-Cripps and the memory of Heathcliff, her fun-loving orange kitty boy.

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Hot Weather Safety for Dogs & Cats: A Roundup

Hot Weather Safety for Dogs & Cats: A Roundup

Here we go again…Every summer, earlier and earlier, we deal with hot weather concerns. With the temperatures rising, and Texas power grid in a precarious situation, please prioritize hot weather safety for dogs and cats as well as yourself. We’ve already had our upstairs air conditioner go out. And what’s uncomfortable for people could become downright dangerous or deadly for pets. I write about hot weather safety for pets each year. This time, I figured a roundup of articles offered the best resource to keep hot dogs chilly, and cool cats safe.

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Cat Colds & Curing Kitty Congestion

Cat Colds & Curing Kitty Congestion

Karma-Kat started sneezing a couple of years ago. When cats have the sniffles, you worry about curing kitty congestion. Cat colds are one of the most common health problems of kittens and adult cats. Feline upper respiratory diseases, sometimes called cat flu, often affect shelter and rescue cats. My cat Seren-Kitty also had a couple of severe bouts with kitty snorkles.

For more information about cat colds and dog coughs, see this post.

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Hunting Gifts: Why Do Cats Bring You Dead Animals

Hunting Gifts: Why Do Cats Bring You Dead Animals

Here in Texas, the warm weather continues to bring big-bug-migrations from outside to the living room. The cats are thrilled with cricket carcasses and the occasional disoriented field mouse that takes a deadly detour. But why do cats bring you dead animals?

Thank goodness, both Karma-Kat and Trinity-Kitten haven’t presented me with anything beyond a cricket drumstick. But it’s not unusual for cats to share their bounty. Mousey morsels end up on the front porch or (Ew!) a beloved owner’s pillow. Why do cats bring us critter gifts?

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How to Keep Your Cat Safe with Outdoor Cat Enclosures

How to Keep Your Cat Safe with Outdoor Cat Enclosures

It’s vitally important that you keep outdoor cats safe with outdoor cat enclosures. In the best of all possible worlds, cats could roam back gardens and chase butterflies, enjoy sniffing the roses and have a wonderful time being cats–as they were meant to be. But the reality of the situation is that dangers lurk even in the back garden. Here are some things to consider.

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Dogs Jumping Up? How to Ground Jumping Jack Dogs

Dogs Jumping Up? How to Ground Jumping Jack Dogs

A puppy jumping up aggravates and even terrorizes people. His paws muddy slacks; her claws snag pantyhose. Being tackled by a dog is an unpleasant, dangerous surprise. It’s also rude behavior that should not be allowed in polite human/canine society.

Puppy training goes beyond potty training. With our Bravo-Dawg weighing over 120 pounds, jumping up became a safety issue. Shadow-Pup at only 50 pounds still causes plenty of aggravation. Teach limits early–but even hard case adult dogs can be taught not to jump up.

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